"You are my Faith, my Hope, my All! What e'er the Future may unfold, No trial too great--no Thing too small. Your whispered Words shall make me bold To win at last for Your dear Sake A worthy Place in Future's World."
I felt my Soul enwrapt in a not unpleasant reverie; an exquisite Peaceseemed to have descended on my Mind, lately so agitated by Thoughts ofmy dear, dear Friend.
Suddenly a stealthy Sound behind Me caused me to turn; and, in truth, Iam not sure even now if what I saw was Reality, or the Creation of mineown Dreams.
The Lady Barbara had softly and surreptitiously re-entered the Room.She walked across it on tip-toe, her silken Skirts making just thesoftest possible _frou-frou_ as she walked. Her cloud-like Veil wrappedher Head entirely, concealing her fair Hair, and casting a grey Shadowover her Eyes. Mr. Betterton did not hear her, or, if he did, he didnot choose to look up. When her Ladyship was quite close to the Desk, Inoticed that she had a Bunch of white Roses in her Hand such as aregrown in the Hot-houses of rich Noblemen.
For a few Seconds she stood quite still. Then she raised the Rosesslowly to her Lips, and laid them down without a word upon the Desk.
After which, she glided out of the Room as silently, as furtively, asshe came.
4
And thus, dear Mistress, have I come to the end of my long Narrative. Iswear to You by the living God that everything which I have hereinrelated is the Truth and Naught but the Truth.
There were many People present in Mr. Betterton's room during thatmemorable Scene, when he sacrificed his Pride and his Revenge in orderto right the Innocent. Amongst these Witnesses there were some, whomMalice and Envy would blind to the Sublimity of so noble an Act. Do notlisten to them, honoured Mistress, but rather to the promptings of yourown Heart and to that unerring Judgment of Men and of Events which isthe Attribute of good and pure Women.
Mr. Betterton hath never forfeited your Esteem by any Act or Thought.The Infatuation which momentarily dulled his Vision to all save to theBeauty of the Lady Barbara, hath ceased to exist. Its course wasephemeral and hath gone without a Trace of Regret or Bitterness in itswake. The eminent Actor, the high-souled Artist, whom all culturedEurope doth reverence and admire, stands as high to-day in that sameWorld's Estimation as he did, before a young and arrogant Coxcomb daredto measure his own Worth against that of a Man as infinitely above himas are the Stars. But, dear Mistress, Mr. Betterton now is lonely andsad. He is like a Man who hath been sick and weary, and is stillgroping after Health and Strength. Take pity on his Loneliness, I doconjure You. Give him back the inestimable Boon of your Goodwill and ofyour Friendship, which alone could restore to him that Peace of Mind sonecessary for the furtherance of his Art.
And if, during the Course of my Narrative, I have seemed to youover-presumptuous, then I do entreat your Forgiveness. Love for myFriend and Reverence for your Worth have dictated every Word which Ihave written. If, through my Labours, I have succeeded in turning awaysome of the just Anger which had possessed your Soul against the Manwhom, I dare aver, you still honour with your Love, then, indeed, Ishall feel that even so insignificant a Life as mine hath not beenwholly wasted.
I do conclude, dear and honoured Mistress, with a Prayer to Almighty Godfor your Welfare and that of the Man whom I love best in all the World.I am convinced that my Prayer will find Favour before the Throne of Himwho is the Father of us All. And He who reads the innermost Secrets ofevery Heart, knows that your Welfare is coincident with that of myFriend. Thus am I content to leave the Future in His Hands.
And I myself do remain, dear Mistress, Your humble and obedient Servant, JOHN HONEYWOOD.
EPILOGUE
Ring down the Curtain. The Play is ended. The Actors have made theirfinal Bow before You and thanked You for your Plaudits. The chiefPlayer--a sad and lonely Man--has for the nonce spoken his last upon theStage.
All is Silence and Mystery now. The Lights are out. And yet theAudience lingers on, loath to bid Farewell to the great Artist and tohis minor Satellites who have helped to wile away a few pleasant Hours.You, dear Public, knowing so much about them, would wish to know more.You wish to know--an I am not mistaken--whether the Labour of Lovewrought by good Master Honeywood did in due course bear itsFruitfulness. You wish to know--or am I unduly self-flattered--whetherthe Play of Passion, of Love and of Revenge, set by the worthy Clerkbefore You, had an Epilogue--one that would satisfy your Sense ofJustice and of Mercy.
Then, I pray You, turn to the Pages of History, of which MasterHoneywood's Narrative forms an integral and pathetic Part. One of thesePages will reveal to You that which You wish to know. Thereon You willsee recorded the Fact that, after a brief and distinguished Visit duringthat Summer to the City and University of Stockholm, where Honourswithout number were showered upon the great English Actor, Mr. Bettertoncame back to England, to the delight of an admiring Public, for he wasthen in the very Plenitude of his Powers.
Having read of the Artist's triumph, I pray You then to turn over thePage of the faithful Chronicle of his Career, and here You will find abrief Chapter which deals with his private Life and with his Happiness.You will see that at the End of this self-same year 1662, the Registerof St. Giles', Cripplegate, contains the Record of a Marriage betweenThomas Betterton, Actor, of the parish of St. Margaret's, Westminster,and Mary Joyce Saunderson, of the aforesaid parish of St. Giles'.
That this Marriage was an exceptionally happy one we know frominnumerable Data, Minutes and Memoranda supplied by Downes and others;that Master John Honeywood was present at the Ceremony itself we may beallowed to guess. Those of us who understand and appreciate theartistic Temperament, will readily agree with the worthy Clerk when hesaid that it cannot be judged by ordinary Standards. The long andsuccessful Careers of Thomas Betterton and of Mistress Saunderson hisWife testify to the Fact that their Art in no way suffered, while theirSouls passed through the fiery Ordeal of Passion and of Sorrow; butrather that it became ennobled and purified, until they themselves tooktheir place in the Heart and Memory of the cultured World, among theImmortals.
THE END
----
By BARONESS ORCZY
His Majesty's Well-BelovedThe League of the Scarlet PimpernelFlower o' the LilyThe Man in GreyLord Tony's WifeA Sheaf of BluebellsLeatherfaceThe Bronze EagleA Bride of the PlainsThe Laughing Cavalier"Unto Caesar"El DoradoMeadowsweetThe Noble RogueThe Heart of a WomanPetticoat Rule
GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
NEW YORK
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